TU Softball Cruises Past Missouri State

Senior Aimee Creger struck out 13 batters and Tulsa totaled 17 hits to defeat Missouri State 11-0 amid chilly and windy conditions Wednesday afternoon at Killian Stadium.

Creger pitched 6.0 innings and improved to 13-1 on the season, allowing just one hit and one walk. Freshman third baseman Maggie Withee went 2-for-2 with three RBI and two runs and senior shortstop Jill Barrett was 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run to lead the Golden Hurricane (29-3).

TU returns home this weekend for a three-game Conference USA series against UTEP. The teams play at doubleheader Saturday beginning at 3 p.m. The first game of the series will be televised by Fox Sports Network. TU and UTEP conclude the series with a single game at noon Sunday.

With the wind blowing in at 20 mph, senior second baseman Shelby Blanton put Tulsa on the board in the top of the first with a solo home run, her first of the season. She shot a rope down the right field line that cut into the wind and hooked just inside the foul pole.

The Hurricane added three more runs in the third on an RBI double by senior center fielder Cierra Hughes and a two-run single by Withee. Junior designated player Erica Sampson and first baseman Jill Roye led off the inning with back-to-back singles.

Creger, meanwhile, recorded the first seven outs of the game by strikeout, and allowed just a groundball base hit through the left side in the second and a walk in the fourth. The string of strikeouts was broken by a groundout to short in the third inning.

Sophomore catcher Catherine Horner hit a one-out single to right field in the fifth, and Withee followed with an RBI base hit that scored pinch runner Brittany Walker. Withee then scored on Barrett's triple into the left field corner, extending the lead to 6-0.

TU added five more runs in the top of the seventh. Horner drew a one-out walk, Creger singled to left, and Henshaw singled deep in the hole at first, loading the bases. Barrett drove home Horner with a base hit through the left side. Blanton then reached on a fielder's choice, and Withee, who re-entered in her spot in the order to run for Creger, scored on an errant throw to home by the first baseman.

Sophomore Jocelyn Sheffield pinch hit, and plated Henshaw on a groundout. Kernen then drove home the final two runs with a base hit up the middle to make the score 11-0.

Caitlin Sill tossed the seventh inning for the Hurricane, recording one strikeout and allowing one hit.

Erin Struemph (7-4) allowed four runs on eight hits in 3.0 innings and took the loss for the Bears (18-10). First baseman Bethany Sullinger and right fielder/relief pitcher Chelsea Jones each singled for MSU. Jessie Van Es allowed two earned runs on five hits in 2.0 innings, and Jones allowed five runs, but one earned, on four hits in 2.0 innings.